How Can I get my Baby to Sleep Through the Night?

Most parents look forward to the day that their baby is able to sleep more throughout the night. Let’s face it, sleep deprivation is HARD. Many parents tell us that they feel like they would be a better parent and truly enjoy their child if they weren’t so tired. It makes sense! Sometimes parent's don't realize how different their lives could be until they make those changes to both their sleep and their child's. Here are some ways that you can get your baby to sleep through the night.

Have a calm and consistent bedtime routine

Bedtime routines act as a cue for your baby that bedtime is approaching. Bedtime routines are also recommended as early as the newborn phase. Your routine should be simple, so that you can implement it every night. A simple routine can include: bath, book, swaddle and a quick song.

Wean off the night feedings

Oftentimes, babies can night wean around 5-6 months, sometimes 4. You’ll want to get the ok from your child’s doctor to eliminate all night feedings or at least gradually reduce them. There are many ways you can night wean, and it all depends on what you are comfortable with and how you want to go about it. Visit our Eliminating Night Feedings blog for more info.

Teach your baby how to self-soothe

Many parents believe that sleep training is about not attending to their child. We teach parents to go into their babies’ room when they require soothing, however, it is important to limit stimulation and the amount of time that you are in there. The idea is to give your baby the hint that it is night-time and it is time to sleep, not play or eat (if your baby can go through the night without eating). Once your baby learns how to gradually self-soothe with our methods, you’ll have to soothe less, because they are able to do the bulk of the work on their own. Teaching your baby how to self-soothe is one of the direct causes of eliminating those night waking’s.

We work with you to determine a method of sleep training that is most comfortable for you!

Follow a schedule

No, it does not have to be a strict schedule! Many parents tell us that they do not want to sleep train because they want to be able to take their baby out and not have them only sleep in their crib. We understand! As a parent, you want to have the freedom to do both. We always tell parents, as long as you are consistent 80% of the time, 20% of the time can be left for some flexibility. I have a 1 year old and we definitely don't follow a strict schedule!

It’s important to keep in mind that daytime sleep is linked to night sleep and vice versa. When your baby gets enough daytime sleep, it will help to prepare them for their night. Keep in mind that putting your baby to bed later in hopes that they will sleep longer in the morning, does not work. In fact, it’s the opposite. Sleep begets sleep. In addition to this, a regular bedtime is so important for babies and young children. You can visit our Sleep Schedules and Awake Times by Age blog for more info.

Overall, every child is different. Your child’s temperament plays a huge part in sleep training. In addition to this, your parenting philosophy is unique to you. For some parents, hearing their baby cry for even a minute feels like an eternity. We understand that, and we are here to make sleep training as easy as possible for you. Our sleep/ behaviour support is completely tailored to you, and we want to help. It doesn't have to be this hard! Getting good sleep plays a HUGE role in a parent's mental health. Please contact us for your free 15-minute consultation. We are looking forward to hearing from you.